The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-28
PLU OK.

Pluck was the son of poor Bulgarian
shepherd-not an American boy as one
would imagine from his name. called
him Pluck because it was 30 characters
tic OF the boy, and because l could not
recall the Bulgarian name DR.. Hamlin
gave him. A little hut in Bulgaria, made
of mud and stones, was Pluck's home;
and his father was SO poor that he could
hardly get food enough for his large fam
lily. Their clothes cost little, as they all
wore sheepskins, made up with the wool
outside. Just imagine how funny flock
of two-legged sheep would look. Pluck
was bright, ambitious boy, with great
desire for study. And when he heard of
Robert College at Constantinople, he
determined to go there. So he told his
father one day, when they we're away to-
gether tending sheep, that he had de
cided to go to college. The poor shep-
herd looked at his son in amazement, and
said:
"You can't go to college; it's all can
do to feed you children; can't give you
a piastre."
81 don't want piastre," Pluck replied;
"but do want to go to college"
Besides" the shepherd continued, "you
can't go to college in sheepskins."
But Pluck had made up his mind, and
he went i in sheepskins and without
piastre. 1t was weary march of a hun
dred and fifty miles to Constantinople,
but the boy was willing to do anything
for an education. He found kind friends
all along the way, who gave him food
and shelter at night. So Pluck trudged
sturdily on day after day until he reached
Oonstantinople. AS he was not one to
let the grass grow under his feet he soon
found his way to the college, went into
the kitchen and inquired for the Presi-
dent.
Pluck asked for work; but the Presi-
dent kindly told him there was none, and
that he must go away. "Oh, no." Pluck
said, 81 can't do that. didn't come here
to go away" When the President in
sisted, Pluck's answer was the same: 81
didn't come here to go away"
He had no idea of giving up. "The
King of France, with forty thousand
men, went up hill, and SO came down
again; but it was no part of Pluck's
plan to go marching home again. And
three hours later the President saw him in
the yard patiently waiting.
Some of the students advised Pluck to
see Professor Long. "He knows all about
you Bulgarian fellows" The Professor,
like the President, said there was no
work for him, and he had better go away.
But Pluck bravely stuck to his text: 81
didn't come here to go away"
The boys courage and perseverance
pleased the Professor SO much that he
urged the President to give Pluck trial.
So it was decided that he should take care
of the fires. That meant carrying wood,
and great deal of it, up three or four
flights of stairs, taking away the ashes
and keeping all the things neat and in
order.
The President thought he would soon
get tired of such hard work. But a boy who
had walked hundred and fifty miles for
the sake of an education, and was not
ashamed to go to college in sheepskins
and without piastre, would not be easily
discouraged.
After few days, as Pluck showed no
signs of weakening" the President went
to him and said: "My poor boy, you
cannot stay here this winter. This room
is not comfortable, and 1 have no other
TO give you"
"Oh, I'm perfectly satisfied" Pluck re-
piled. sits the best room ever had in